Post AZDUfL5NncB2Sd3Df6 by sesquipedality@mendeddrum.org
(DIR) More posts by sesquipedality@mendeddrum.org
(DIR) Post #AZCvQ8zwxgnWESWqZs by mjg59@nondeterministic.computer
2023-08-29T01:24:09Z
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Why the fuck does the official Windows emacs installer ask me to agree to the GPL before installing it?
(DIR) Post #AZCw3mkh5j5wowIN3Q by Ertain@mast.linuxgamecast.com
2023-08-29T01:29:52Z
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@mjg59 That's a good question. Uh, force of habit? 🤷♂️
(DIR) Post #AZCwGURSTnvLnTM8TQ by jalcine@todon.eu
2023-08-29T01:30:12Z
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@mjg59 "Do you SWEAR to share the source?!"
(DIR) Post #AZCwSpibCTBVGAG7to by c0dec0dec0de@hachyderm.io
2023-08-29T01:31:22Z
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@mjg59 it has been 0 days since I was needlessly asked to agree to the terms of the GPL.
(DIR) Post #AZCweJboPMoV9IYlAe by flameeyes@mastodon.social
2023-08-29T01:38:03Z
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@mjg59 @foone we're in good company!https://flameeyes.blog/2020/03/23/the-gpl-is-not-an-eula/
(DIR) Post #AZCxEZ9s4cBZncmBii by busterb@infosec.exchange
2023-08-29T01:44:48Z
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@mjg59 because commonly WIX templates for building MSI files have a standard place where the license goes, and that asks you to accept by default. It's sometimes harder to get rid of it than to just accept it. Example: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-omnibus/blob/master/resources/metasploit-framework/msi/source.wxs.erb
(DIR) Post #AZCxT1ThZsR5gawg1g by mjg59@nondeterministic.computer
2023-08-29T01:47:41Z
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@busterb I'd expect the FSF to go to the effort of getting it right, given you're explicitly not required to accept the GPL to use covered code
(DIR) Post #AZCy8uYRi2K4NM8dTU by busterb@infosec.exchange
2023-08-29T01:54:45Z
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@mjg59 well here's the how-to for overriding the WIX default widgets, assuming they're using this to build it https://wixtoolset.org/docs/v3/wixui/wixui_customizations/I just remember struggling with this in the past.
(DIR) Post #AZD3a32clO46Hp0sRE by jamesh@aus.social
2023-08-29T02:50:27Z
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@mjg59 Not saying it's appropriate, but I could easily imagine someone seeing a setting in the installer generator to set the project license and them not thinking about how it would be presented.
(DIR) Post #AZDJ3QDZAgO3sSb01g by jyrgenn@mas.to
2023-08-29T05:49:12Z
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@mjg59 "Because it is there"Seriously, (without any detailed knowledge, I have to admit) I assume that requesting consent to a license if there is one is deeply ingrained in the installer logic.
(DIR) Post #AZDNUZrnnvjPRFcVcm by codepope@mastodon.org.uk
2023-08-29T06:39:01Z
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@mjg59 at a guess because it has no record of you previously (and unnecessarily) agreeing to it. I always assumed that the default installers had a slot for license agreements and GPL folk just put the GPL in that slot…
(DIR) Post #AZDSfZ4JbzZBv3X0a0 by tienelle@mendeddrum.org
2023-08-29T07:35:57Z
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@mjg59 Enough spyware/extremely pushy "backup" systems that you're effectively "distributing" anything you install?
(DIR) Post #AZDUfL5NncB2Sd3Df6 by sesquipedality@mendeddrum.org
2023-08-29T07:59:32Z
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@mjg59 (1) to make you aware of the terms under which you are licensed to use the software (2) to prevent you arguing that you didn't knowingly violate the GPL because no one brought it to your attention.
(DIR) Post #AZDUvSyuDBB7a7iAOu by mjg59@nondeterministic.computer
2023-08-29T08:02:25Z
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@sesquipedality (1) The GPL explicitly doesn't cover use (2) almost all meaningful GPL violations involve platforms where nobody is presented with the GPL before use
(DIR) Post #AZDV3lj6OxXc2FHJlg by sesquipedality@mendeddrum.org
2023-08-29T08:02:33Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
@mjg59 now you could say no one does that on Linux, and you'd be right but (a) maybe they should (b) the expectation of windows users is different, they don't expect to have to go looking for a license. There's arguments for not doing it, but it's hardly bonkers.
(DIR) Post #AZDV3mLO6cALwzBtRY by mjg59@nondeterministic.computer
2023-08-29T08:04:11Z
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@sesquipedality The assertion that you must agree with the GPL to use the software is simply untrue. Ensuring that people are aware of their obligations if they choose to redistribute would be arguably justifiable, but it's not what this prompt is doing.
(DIR) Post #AZDY0Nc9tPJyFN6dpg by charfish@mastodon.social
2023-08-29T08:37:02Z
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@mjg59 The GPL says "You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the rights granted or affirmed under this License". It also explicitly says "You are not required to accept this License in order to receive or run a copy of the Program."Requiring that the user agrees to the GPL could be considered a further restriction, so does that mean the official emacs installer violates the GPL?
(DIR) Post #AZE8SgBM351QI9MWiu by corwin@noc.social
2023-08-29T15:24:49Z
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@mjg59 Predates my involvement but IMO it shouldn't. If you `report-emacs-bug' I'll see if I can't improve the situation.